Historical Composting
Every once in a while I meet them. Typically “them” are a more mature person that is sitting off to the side or towards the back of a backyard composting seminar. There’s a glint in their eye, because they’ve been composting for 30, 40 or even more years.

On more than one occaison, they’ve helped “the Kid” up in front of the group (a.k.a., Bart) out by asking a good leading question. Usually it’s about a crucial part of composting, like controlling moisture content, or keeping critters out of piles. As I answer the question, it’s quite apparent that the answer was already known. These people are composters, and composting really has been around for much longer than any of us.

A former committee member of mine, Mr. Ted Lassig, whose father emigrated from Germany, often recalls how his father composted and spoke of composting back in Europe. This tradition continues today and virtually all European countries are literally decades ahead of the U.S. in terms of composting. My wife and I purchased Ted’s brother’s (Harry) home, and the main selling point (for me) was a large 4’ X 3’ X 16’ concrete block compost pit in the back yard. This pit received years of cabbage trimmings from the making of saurkraut every fall.

Now, recent archaelogical excavations of George Washington’s Mount Vernon residence have unearthed…. Yup, you guessed it, a compost pit! And we’re talking Magnum Compost Pit, over thirty by twenty feet (of course having horses helps!). Yes, Sir!, Father of our Nation, first President, military leader of the revolution, and Master Composter. Why that just about makes you want to start piling up leaves, and start mixing in coffee grounds and banana peels while listening to Sousa marches.

Why even Walt Whitman, famous American writer, knew a good humus when he saw it. In his classic poem, Behold this Compost.

Behold this Compost!
Behold it Well!
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